I was ready to fork over the $100 cancellation fee and go sign an AT&T contract just to get an iPhone, then we get the news today that Verizon is about to ink the deal we’ve all been waiting for with Apple.

Analysts are now predicting that AT&T will not get their exclusivity extension in 2010. Instead, Verizon may be the next carrier to join the members only club of iPhone carriers. Sources say that discussions have continued since spring of 2009 with Verizon and the deal will likely be finalized soon.

Why Verizon?  First and obvious is the number of people using their service. The second and perhaps more important reason is Verizon being the first carrier to be ready to launch the new standard in wireless technology called LTE (Limited Time Evaluation).  LTE should probably be looked at as the new GSM and universal standard.  The network will roll out with an initial 4g network with vast expandability.

The move from Verizon’s antiquated CDMA to LTE is probably the lure to bring Apple back to Verizon. This new technology combined with endless complaints about AT&T coverage and data speed led to Apple seeking more reliable networks for their users.

I don’t know about you, but I’ll stick with Verizon if iPhone is coming to the network.  If not, AT&T here I come!

We have been busy with lots of projects and realized we haven’t updated our blog for a long time!

We are invited as a guest speaker at DeVry University in Orlando tomorrow and we’ll talk about iPhone Development. Hoping to meet enthusiastic students and to be able to show something interesting for them.

As I am Japanese, I check Japan news online on a daily basis. Thanks to the Internet! I couldn’t do that 10 years ago.

So… This university in Tokyo is giving away free iPhone to everyone. WHY?
It looks like they want to track if the students are on campus or not using the GPS system…lol
They are actually forcing all 550 staff and students to use the iPhone. They also will be using iPhone to provide simple tests and questionnaires, submitting their assignment and stuff.

The university will cover the basic charges (of course! If you are forcing) so that students do not need to pay for their services. Well, if you use a lot, it’s on your own.

But it’s pretty nice. When I was in college… Nobody was using cell phone… (feel a little old…) My college was not paying for my pager… (feel even a little older)
I don’t even have an iPhone and I wish I had one… But I don’t know. Is it really good? I hate my G1 but it is nice to have a query keyboard. I’m looking forward to see the G2… And hoping someone will pay for it.

Wow. I just read an interesting news article.

I am probably behind all the technology out there or I don’t care about cars so I totally missed this news a month ago.

Chrysler’s Peapod is an electronic vehicle aimed for iPhone users.

This neighborhood friendly car runs 25/mph top speed, uses the iPhone to control the sound system, as the  CAR KEY, even the navigation system, etc…. Without an iPhone, you cannot open the door or even start the car!

Peapod

OMG! This Peapod is so cute! (You can tell I am a girl)

oh… but this reminds me of….

Dragon Quest - Slime

Slime from the game, Dragon Quest.
(I just played Rocket Slime on DS over the weekend… LOL)

Anyway probably I won’t buy it like I concerned about it when Smart came out, but thought it was a funny iPhone news to write about here.

We received an email121112111211 from Apple’s iPhone Developer Program, stating that all  submissions to the App store (for both existing applications and new) must be compatible with iPhone 3.0 SDK.  We have done some testing of the 3.0 SDK, now it’s time to take the betas seriously.  I think this could mean Apple could release iPhone OS 3.0 without additional heads-up to the developers, giving Apple the surprise announcement they like so much.

All apps must be compatible with iPhone OS 3.0
Millions of iPhone and iPod touch customers will move to iPhone OS 3.0 this summer. Beginning today, all submissions to the App Store will be reviewed on the latest beta of iPhone OS 3.0. If your app submission is not compatible with iPhone OS 3.0, it will not be approved.

Gadgewise an electronic blog on The New York Times has posted that the BlackBerry is now outselling the iPhone.(As a slight aside — several websites are actually posting this, however, this article was well written.)

To give a short summation of the article, the BlackBerry Curve outsold the iPhone in Q1 due to two primary reasons; One being that the Curve is sold on all four major carriers, and within Verizon, a promotion of buy one get one free helped launch it over the cusp of the cup.

Now, one would argue, much as I would, that once AT&T loses its exclusivity contract in 2010 that the iPhone will end up back on top. Which, I do believe is going to happen. With clever marketing and three other telecommunications company’s eager to have some of the Apple Pie, who can stop the iPhone from climbing the mountain again?

The Washington Post reports that pizza delivery chain Papa Johns is not impressed with the iPhone app that they have contracted.

Now, I was just skimming over news, as I do daily, and this article pops up. The mind comes to bare however, how true this can be. How many start up companies have decided to make a quick application and pitch it to several large companies in hope for quick cash. Hundreds? Thousands? I’m sure the number is quite large. In any case, this comes down to execution. Not all applications are going to be amazing — some need that extra umph to get them going, some won’t ever make it past day one.

Basically, in a Readers Digest summary, if your company is looking for a mobile marketing solution; Don’t go the Papa Johns short cut plain Jane route. Go ahead and take the 1st class ticket, otherwise you’ll never see returns on your investment.

I’d just like to ask, Who didn’t see this coming? The iPhone is an amazing platform able to build bridges between technologies that before felt well, slow. A quick summary of the article goes as follows: iPhone scored full points on all categories except battery.

Amazing right?

Read the full article here at 9 to 5 Mac.

CNN reports that Apple has put its target on the PC sector between mobile netbooks and mobile devices such as the iPhone. We have all seen the minitablet pc’s at conventions around the states.  However, these pc’s are very limited in what they were able to do — mainly basic web browsing, some word processing, and e-mail121112111211, basically due to the limitations of the OS and hardware. With Apple’s iPhone OS, which as proved it works well on small screens and with limited input options.

Can Apple do it? I hope so! (And probably Yes)

Apple has always had some sort of a rumor mill turning about new devices coming out. This is probably due to the slow release speed but quality products they have been known to produce.

Another rumor that is tied in with this one is that iPhone Lite is being offered to Verizon once AT&T loses its exclusivity rights. The good news about this rumor however, is that iPhone Lite is slated to be $99. Granted, this is all just rumor at this point, but it is tasty.

Read the rest of Neowin’s article here.